Winton set to host best of motor history

THIS year’s 38th Historic Winton, to be held at Winton Motor Raceway on May 24-25, will again feature more than 400 historic racing cars and motorbikes from the 1920s to the 1980s.

Conducted by the Austin 7 Club with assistance from the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association Victoria, Historic Winton is Australia’s largest and most popular all-historic motor race meeting and this year introduces a historic commercial vehicle display.

The display, to be held on the Sunday, will feature a range of commercial vehicles built prior to 1975, with trophies for those vehicles of special interest.

Joining the commercials will be a historic motor bike display featuring sidecars, and a huge display of veteran, vintage, sports and classics, hotrods, customs and street machines.

Again there will be trophies for special interest vehicles.

Feature celebrations this year include 110 years of Hispano Suiza, Rolls Royce, Rover and Crossley, 100 years of Dodge, Willys-Knight, Aston Martin and Maserati and 90 years of Bentley Le Mans victories, Bugatti Type 35 and Frazer Nash.

Other celebrations include 80 years of Simca, Citroen Traction Avant, Chrysler Airflow, Lagonda Rapier and Austin 7 Ruby, 60 years of Borgward Isabella, Ford Thunderbird and Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, and 50 years of Ford Mustang and Sunbeam Tiger.

Other highlights scheduled include Shannons Classic Car Park featuring car and bike club displays, spectator access to the competition paddock with fabulous old racing machines on open display and displays of Bubble Car, Indian Motorbike and Penrite AGP Aussie Specials.

Anyone with a classic or special-interest car or bike is invited to join the spectator car park on either day.

On Friday, May 23, the Benalla and District Classic Car and Motorbike Tour will be held in conjunction with the raceway’s activities.

The tour will assemble at 9am at the Benalla Art Gallery.

Red plate vehicles are welcome.

The tour concludes with a shine and show display outside the Benalla Civic Centre from 3-5pm.

The $10 entry fee includes a RACV rally pack and there will be RACV trophies for the most interesting vehicles.

Further information is available from Graeme McDonald on 0417 306 332 or email historicwinton@hotmail.com Raceway entry on Saturday is $25, Sunday $35, weekend pass $50, competition paddock $5, children 16 and under free.